Machine for making boxes



July 10, 1923- 1,461,414

A. v. COSTER MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES Filed June 17 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 iwjijlllll 9 f e e .f

July 10, 1923 A. V. COSTER MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES Filed June 17. 1922 4 sheets-Sheet 4 21 =3 L U o v Tlll Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITE STATES PATEN caries.

ARTHUR V. COSTER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE ma MAKING BOXES.

Application filed June 17, 1922. Serial No. 568,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR VENNELL COS'I'ER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Making Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for making boxes from paper board or the like, and more particularly the tray members of match boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby a blank of suitable contour can be folded into box form 'and the folds fastened without the use of glue or other adhesive substance; and to this end the invention, generally stated, comprises mechanism for folding the blank into box form, and means for thereafter punching inwardl -extending tongues from the box material in such a manner that the tongues bear firmly against opposingfolded portions of the blank and lock them in folded relation. While in the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated the tongues are punched from the bottom of the box, yet it is to be understood that the invention, in its broad aspect, comprehends mechanism whereby the tongues may be punched from the sides or ends of the box.

The invention also comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a strip of box material 'which has been out and scored to form a series of blanks suitable for box trays.

Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal and trans verse sections, respectively, of a blank as positioned between a co-operating die, and matrix preparatory to the folding of the blank.

Figs. 4. and 5 are longitudinal and transverse views, respectively, of the blank, the die and the matrix, at the end of the first movement of the die.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the blank, the die and the matrix at the end of the second movement of the die, showing the folding levers as acting upon the up-pro-.

j ecting portions of the end extensions.

Fig. 7 is a. similar section at the end of the third movement of the die, showing the punches beneath the bottom of the box.

Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the die at the end of its fourth movement and the punches as. actuated to form fastening tongues in the bottom of the box.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a completed matc box tray.

Figs. 10 and 10, when placed side by side, represent an elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying the co-operating elements above mentioned, for producing the said tray.

Fig. 11 is a partial horizontal section through the matrix block and punch devices, as on the line w-w of Figs. 10 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the matrix block and associated parts, taken generally on the line yg of Fig. 10, a portion of the frame standard at the left hand side of the machine (Fig. 10), together with a portion of the punch-actuating lever and its operating cam (21), being indicated.

The strip shown in Fig. 1 is cut to form blanks for that kind of match box tray which has an inwardly extending flange on the upper edge of one side. The dotted lines represent the scoring on the under surface of the strip. The strip is fed into the machine hereinafter described (as compared with which the strip is drawn to an enarged scale) and is cut off by a suitable knife (which may be a part of the machine) along the line a-b. The blank thus formed has the side pieces 0, the side extension d for forming the said flange, the end pieces e and the end extensions for folding as presently to be described. 11 addition there are the corner pieces 9.

In Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, are illustrated the various steps of folding and securing the blank in box form, the elements of the machine for directly acting upon the blank being indicated. These elements include a reciprocating die 72. and a complementary matrix block 9 upon which -seen in Fig. 5. At the end of this move ment four bars 6 (Figs. 4 and 5), one at each corner of the die, are advanced to fold the corner pieces 9 against the ends of the die.

The downward movement of the die now continues and the blank is forced further into the matrix, thereby folding. its ends e (Fig. 6). At the end of this movement folders in engage the end extensions f. The die now moves upwards until clear of the extensions f, leaving the blank engaged in the matrix and supported on blocks Z (Fig.

7) the folders is now advance to fold the extensions f into the position shown In Fig. 7 whereupon the die it again descends and entering the blank folds the extensions f over the corner pieces 9 (Fig. 8). As soon as this folding has occurred punches m adapted to slide in blocks Z are protruded so,as to cut and force upwards tongues 01. in the bottom of the blank- (Fig. 8) Immediately afterwards, the knives having been withdrawn, the pressure of the die is momentarily relieved and the blocks Z are withdrawn from beneath the matrix; the now finished tray is thrust out of the matrix by the continued descent of the die. The flange (l is been charged into the tray, but with this the present invention'is not concerned.

Referring to F igs, 10, 10 and 12, the supporting frame 1 includes a bar 2 in which slide guide rods 3 for the die 71. the latter be: ing provided on its underfacc, at its end, with recesses 4. Fastened to the upper part of the guide rods is a block 5 carrying rollers 6 which engage in similar cam grooves in the face of cam discs 7 keyed to a cam shaft 8 which has its hearings in the standards of the frame. This shaft is driven continuously by any suitable gear and the shape of the aforesaid cam grooves is such that the die performs the movements already described with reference to Figs. 2-8.

The matrix block 9, which is supported on the base of the frame. has a cavity 10 of the dimensions of the finished tray and a recess 11 of the width of the finished tray but of length equal to that of the blank. Thus it happens that when the die first forces the blank into the matrix the sides 0 (Fig. 1) are turned up, the ends e and end extensions f being accommodated in the recess 11. Thereupon the four bars 2', which are slidably mounted in slots in the top of the matrix block. are pushed inwards to fold the corner pieces 9 (Fig. 1). These bars are pivoted at their outer ends at 12 to levers 13 fulcrumed at 14 on the frame standards, and having their free ends held by a spring 15 against the peripheries of the cam discs 7 which are so shaped that the levers are rapidly oscillated whlle the die It remains stationary. The die now descends further, turning up the ends of the blank forcing them past the noses of the folders is, which noses normally protrude into the cavity in the matrix, but are forced backwards as the blank, supported by the die, passes them. These folders comprise levers pivoted at '17 on the matrix block 9, the tail of each of the levers being connected to a suitably-disposed spring 19 which tends to maintain the nose portion of the lever within the matrix cavity and in the path of the die, as seen in Figs. 10, 10*. At the end of the down stroke of the die the folded blank rests on the blocks Z, which are slidably mounted in the matrix block.

The die now ascends clear of the matrix, whereupon the end extensions f being no longer supported by the matrix yield to the inward pressure of the folders in, and are thereby folded over as described with reference to Fig. 6. The die now descends again and completes the folding downwards of the end extensions f (Fig. 8). At the end of the stroke the punches m which are slidably mounted in the blocks Z beneath the respective recesses 4 of the die, are thrust upwards to punch the tongues n from the blank (Fig. 8). subsequently folded after the matches have This movement of-the punches is derived from cam discs 21 (Figs. 10, 10"-) on the respective ends of the shaft 8, the peripheries of which discs bear against rollers on the shorter arms of bent levers 22 fulcrumed at 23 on the respective side standards of the supporting frame. The longer arms of these levers are slotted at their lower ends to accommodate rods 24 to which the sliding blocks Z are fixed, and bear against the ends of sliding sleeves 25 on the rods 24, there being a spring connection 26 between each of the rods and its sleeve. The forward end of each of the sleeves bears a roller 27 which is adapted to roll on a pair of levers 28 fulcrumed at 29 on a pin' carried by the rod 24, and engaged at one end in slots in the punches m. ()n the inner end of each of the sleeves 25 is a depending bracket having angularly disposed fingers 18 which underlie the levers 28. Each lever 22 has a third arm 30 carrying a roller adapted to be engaged by the periphery of cam disc 7. The operation is as follows At the correct moment the cam discs 21 act upon the opposing arms of the levers 22 to move their longer depending arms inward, thus thrusting sleeves 25 inward so that rollers 27 depress the ends of levers 28 and as the rollers 27 move inward the fingers 18 carried by the sleeves and engaging the underside of levers 28 move to permit the depression ofthe said levers thereby causing punches 'in to rise in blocks Z which was put in tension by the previous movement of the lever, withdraws the sleeve 25 and the unches are free to resume their normal position when levers 28 are raised by the fingers 18. This done, the descent of the die is continued for the urpose of pushing the now finished tray rom the matrix. The blocks Z must therefore be withdrawn and'consequently the pressure of the die is momentarily relieved by its actuating cam path. The withdrawal of the blocks Z is by means of the third arms 30 of levers 22; which arms are depressed by the cams 7 so that the slotted end of each of the longarms of the levers is brought against a cross head or the like 32 on the end of rod 24 thus moving the rod so as to withdraw the block I from beneath the tray and leave the latter free to be thrust completely through the matrix and to fall from, or to be removed in any known manner from, the die. As soon as cam 7 ceases to act on lever 22 spring 26 returns the rod 24: and block Z to its position beneath the matrix.

It is to be understood that the mechanisms herein disclosed are for the purpose of exemplifyin the principle of the invention, and there ore such mechanisms may be variously modified within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In a machine for makin box trays from blanks, each blank comprlsing a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination with means for folding a blank into. tray form with the corner pieces within the folds of the adjacent extensions, of means for punching inwardly projecting tongues from the blank in position to fasten the folded ex tensions against the corner pieces.

2. In a machine for making box trays from blanks, each blank comprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination witlr means for folding a blank into tray form with the corner pieces within the folds of the adjacent extensions, of punches reciprocative toward and from the bottom of the box adjacent its ends, and means for actuating said punches to form inwardly-projecting fold-locking tongues from the bottom of the box.

3. In a machine for making box trays from blanks, each blank comprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination with means for folding a blank into tray-form with the corner pieces within the folds of the adjacent extensions, of su ports movable under and from the respective ends of the box, means for actuating said supports, re-

ciprocable punches in said supports, and' means for actuating said unches to form inwardly-projectin foldocking tongues from the bottom of the box. I x

4. In a machine for making box ,trays from blanks, each blank comprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination of a matrix, a complementary die therefor, means for actuating said die in relation to the matrix, means for bending inwardly the corner pieces of the blank, means for bending the rojecting portions of the end extensions into the path of the die after the bending of the corner pieces, and means for punching inwardly-projecting fold-locking tongues from the blank in position to fasten the folded end portions against the corner pieces.

5. In a machine for making box trays from blanks, each blank comprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination of a matrix, a complementary die therefor, means for actuating said die in relationto the matrix, means for bending inwardly the corner pieces of the blank, means for bending the projecting portions of the end extensions into the path of the die after the bending of the corner pieces, supports movable under and from the respective ends of the box within the matrix, means for actuating said supports, reciprocable punches in said supports, and means for actuatin said punches to form inwardly-projecting ild-locking tongues from the bottom of the box.

6. In a machine for making box trays from blanks, each blank comprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination of a matrix, a complementary die therefor, means for actuating said die in relation to the matrix, means for bending inwardly the corner pieces of the blank, yieldin folders having acting portions normal y positioned within the matrix and in the path of the die and operative to bend the projecting portions of the end extensions into the path of the die after the bending of the corner pieces, and means for punching inwardly-projecting fold-locking tongues from the blank in position to fasten the folded end portions against the corner pieces.

7. In a machine for making box trays from blanks, each bl'ankcomprising a bottom portion having end and side extensions and corner pieces, the combination of a matrix, a complementary die therefor, means for actuating said die in relation to the matrix, means for bending inwardly the corner pieces of the blank, yielding folders having acting portions normally positioned within the matrix and in the path'of the die and operative to bend the projecting portions of the end extensions into the path of the die after the bending of the corner pieces, sup- 5 ports movable under and from the respective ends of the box within the matrix, means for actuating said support, reciprocable menus punches in said supports, and means for actuating said punches to form inwardiy-projecting fold-locking tongues from the 10 bottom of the box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR V. COSTER. 

